Ubisoft Watch Dogs 2 trailer, release date now confirmed

After confirming that Watch Dogs 2 would be part of its E3 lineup last week, Ubisoft has announced that the game will be officially revealed tomorrow (June 8) on the Watch Dogs website. The company has also released a short teaser that suggests phone-based hacking will continue to play a significant role in the sequel.

The Watch Dogs 2 clip isn’t giving much away, but it appears to confirm that the first game’s protagonist, Aiden Pearce, has been replaced or relegated to a supporting role. The clothes that the character in the teaser is wearing match those worn by the masked individual revealed by actor Cort King, who he described as the “lead character.” Kotaku claims the game’s new star is a black hacker named Marcus.

Watch Dogs 2 is moving away from the first game’s Chicago location and will be set in San Francisco, which should make for some exciting driving sections. The ability to control traffic lights, bridges, and other parts of the city with your smartphone will doubtlessly return, along with a slew of new features.

With the absence of a new Assassin’s Creed this year, Ubisoft is pinning its hopes on Watch Dogs 2 being a hit. Ubisoft Montreal vice president of creative, Lionel Raynaud, admitted that the first game "had a lot of flaws in the replayability of gameplay loops," but added that the sequel will contain some “radical” changes.

You can watch The Watch Dogs 2 world premiere tomorrow (9 AM PT) at www.watchdogs.com. We’ll learn more about the game at Ubisoft’s E3 conference, which is scheduled to take place on Monday, June 13, starting at 1 pm (PT), following a 30-minute pre-show.

Update: Ubisoft marketing material visible on IGN has confirmed the new lead character and San Francisco setting. It also revealed that the game will be released on Tuesday 15 November.